About the Pontotoc County Circuit Clerk
The Pontotoc County Circuit Clerk is an elected county officer. Melinda Nowicki holds the office now. Her staff includes deputy clerks Lori Keith, Melissa Pound, and Naylet Vidana. The office sits in the Pontotoc County Courthouse at 11 East Washington Street in the heart of Pontotoc, the county seat.
The clerk serves as the keeper of court files for two courts, the registrar of voters, and the issuing officer for marriage licenses. Most visitors come for a court copy, a case lookup, or a license. The clerk's own website describes a staff dedicated to friendly, caring, and professional service for county residents.
You can confirm the office hours and staff on the clerk's contact page before a visit. The Pontotoc County Circuit Clerk contact page lists the deputy clerks and the courthouse address.
Use the phone numbers below to reach a deputy clerk during business hours. A quick call confirms whether a file is on hand, what a copy will cost, and how you may pay.
Pontotoc County Circuit Clerk
Clerk: Melinda Nowicki
11 E. Washington St.
P.O. Box 428
Pontotoc, MS 38863
662-489-3908
662-509-3700
Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Mississippi's Split Clerk Structure
Mississippi gives each county two trial court clerks, not one. The Circuit Clerk keeps Circuit Court and County Court files. The Chancery Clerk keeps chancery, probate, and land files. Pontotoc County follows this split, and the two offices sit in different buildings.
Pick the right office before you go. Circuit criminal and civil files, judgments, appeals, and marriage licenses belong to the Circuit Clerk at 11 East Washington Street. Divorce, custody, estate, guardianship, and deed records belong to the Chancery Clerk. You can read more about the second office on the Pontotoc County Chancery Clerk page.
| Record Type | Circuit Clerk | Chancery Clerk |
|---|---|---|
| Felony and civil Circuit cases | Yes | No |
| Marriage licenses | Yes | No |
| Judgments and executions | Yes | No |
| Divorce and custody files | No | Yes |
| Probate and estate files | No | Yes |
| Land and deed index | No | Yes |
Note: The Chancery Clerk sits at 34 South Liberty Street, so a wrong turn there can cost you an extra trip across downtown Pontotoc.
What the Pontotoc County Circuit Clerk Does
The Circuit Clerk is the clerk of both the Circuit Court and the County Court. The office receives and files lawsuits, indictments, motions, and related papers in civil and criminal cases. It keeps the minute book, issues subpoenas, and records judgments and executions.
The clerk's duties reach past the courtroom. The same office registers voters, supports elections, and runs jury service for the county. Jurors who are summoned call the office for a recorded message before they report.
- Keeps the general court docket of parties, pleas, indictments, and appealed cases
- Maintains the execution docket and the record of judgments
- Issues subpoenas and files trial documents
- Serves as county voter registrar and supports elections
- Summons jurors, prepares jury lists, and receives verdicts
- Issues marriage licenses and files the marriage record with state vital records
The clerk's Pontotoc County Circuit Clerk jury page explains how jurors report and who may be excused.
Jury notices, juror checks, and certificates of service all flow through this office. If a summons leaves you unsure, the clerk's staff can confirm your report date and location.
How to Request a Certified Copy
A certified copy is a court copy stamped and signed by the clerk as a true record. People need them for name changes, immigration files, appeals, and proof of a judgment or marriage. A plain copy works for personal reference, but courts and agencies often want the certified version.
- Find the case. Have the case number, the party names, and the year ready so the clerk can pull the right file.
- Contact the office. Call the Circuit Clerk at 662-489-3908 to confirm the file is on hand and to learn the exact cost.
- Place the request. Ask at the counter during office hours, or mail a written request to P.O. Box 428, Pontotoc, MS 38863.
- Pay the fee. A copy runs $1.00 per page and certification of a document runs $1.00 each. Pay with exact cash, money order, cashier's check, or card with ID.
- Receive the copy. Pick it up at the counter or include a self-addressed stamped envelope so the clerk can mail it back.
Note: For a divorce decree or a probate paper, request the certified copy from the Chancery Clerk instead, because that office holds the file.
Pontotoc County Circuit Clerk Request Fields
A clear request helps the clerk find a file fast. The office has no single online form for every record, so a written or counter request should carry enough detail to point staff to the exact case. The table below lists the fields that move a copy request along.
| Field | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Case Number | Helpful | Speeds the search; not always known for older files |
| Party Names | Yes | Full legal names of plaintiff and defendant or both spouses |
| Year or Filing Date | Helpful | Narrows the search when no case number is known |
| Document Type | Yes | Judgment, decree, indictment, marriage license, or full file |
| Certified or Plain | Yes | Certified copies cost more than plain copies |
| Number of Copies | Yes | Each copy is priced per page |
| Requester Contact | Yes | Name, phone, and a return mailing address |
Under the Mississippi Public Records Act, a written request that names the record clearly is the safest route. The clearer the detail, the less back-and-forth before the clerk can hand over or mail the copy.
Pontotoc County Circuit Clerk Fee Schedule
The Circuit Clerk publishes a fee schedule for filings, copies, and court services. Most copy and search fees are small and flat. Filing fees are set by court rule and apply when a case opens or moves between courts. The full list from the clerk's fee page appears below.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| New civil case filing, Circuit and County | $161.00 |
| All other civil petitions | $161.00 |
| Petition for expungement | $150.00 |
| Writ, garnishment, post-judgment subpoena, debtor exam | $36.00 |
| Transfer from another court | $88.00 |
| Notice of filing foreign judgment | $161.00 |
| Renewal of judgment | $35.00 |
| Civil appeal, Justice to County and County to Circuit | $161.00 |
| Criminal appeal, Justice to County and County to Circuit | $107.00 plus lower court cost |
| Post-conviction relief | $161.00 |
| Supreme Court appeal | $200.00, paid to Supreme Court Clerk |
| Copies | $1.00 per page |
| Certified copies | $1.00 per document |
| Certification under Acts of Congress | $5.00 |
| Public fax | $1.50 per page |
| Enrolling judgment or abstract of judgment | $6.00 |
| Cancellation of judgment | $2.00 |
| Marriage license | $37.00 |
| Certified copy of marriage license | $17.00 |
| Professional license recording | $6.00 |
| Record search, 10-year search | $10.00 |
The office takes exact cash, money order, cashier's check, and credit card with ID. The full breakdown is posted on the Pontotoc County Circuit Clerk fee page. The expungement filing fee of $150.00 matches Mississippi law for petitions under Section 99-19-72.
Marriage Licenses in Pontotoc County
The Circuit Clerk issues marriage licenses, not the Chancery Clerk. Both parties must come in together to apply. Each must show proof of age with a valid driver's license, passport, or state-issued ID, and each must be at least 21. If either party is under 21, both parents or legal guardians must be present with photo ID.
The license fee is $37.00 in exact cash. A debit or credit card adds a $2 card fee, which brings the card total to $39.00. The couple arranges their own licensed minister or authorized official for the ceremony. State law requires the license before the wedding, under Miss. Code Sections 93-1-13 and 93-1-19.
The clerk also files the marriage record with the Mississippi State Department of Health and can sell a certified copy of a marriage license for $17.00. Full requirements and the application form sit on the Pontotoc County Circuit Clerk marriage page.
Note: Passports are handled by the Circuit Clerk in New Albany in Union County, not in Pontotoc, so do not plan a passport visit to this office.
Electronic Access Through MEC and PAMEC
Pontotoc County Circuit and County Courts went live on Mississippi Electronic Courts on May 2, 2022, with e-filing in place by May 16, 2022. Attorneys file and view cases through MEC. Members of the public view e-filed cases through PAMEC, the public access side of the same system. Both need a login, and some documents stay restricted by role.
The login form asks for only a few fields. The table below shows what the First Circuit MEC and PAMEC sign-in page requests.
| Field | Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Authentication Login | text | Yes | MEC filer login or PAMEC login |
| Password | password | Yes | Password for MEC or PAMEC |
| Client code | text | Varies | Shown on the login form |
| Forgot Password | link | Optional | PAMEC password recovery |
| Forgot Username | link | Optional | PAMEC username recovery |
Users without a login can register online for PAMEC. If the system says you do not have permission to view a document, access is limited to attorneys of record. Technical help comes from helpdesk@mec.ms.gov or the PAMEC line at 601-576-4650. You can reach the sign-in screen from the First Circuit MEC login page, and the wider Pontotoc County court records guide maps every search route.
Records Requests and the Public Records Act
Many older Pontotoc County files predate e-filing and are not online. Sealed cases, youth court files, and adoption matters are also kept off public view. When a record is not in MEC or PAMEC, the request chain runs through the clerk who holds the file.
The Mississippi Public Records Act backs up these requests. A person may inspect or copy public records under reasonable written procedures. If the office has no set procedure, access is due within one working day after a written request. The body may charge the actual cost of search, review, copying, and mailing, and may redact exempt material while releasing the rest.
This office serves a steady, county-seat community. Pontotoc County is home to roughly 32,000 residents, per the Pontotoc County Census QuickFacts court records data source.
For a rural county this size, the clerk's counter, phone line, and mail box matter more than a large online portal. A short call before a visit is the surest way to get the right file the first time.
Inside the Pontotoc County Courthouse
The Circuit Clerk works inside a courthouse with deep local history. Pontotoc was laid out in 1836 and incorporated in 1837 as the county's only seat. The building downtown anchors the county's court records to this day.
In 2006 the county reopened a restored second-floor courtroom. A state judiciary notice marked the open house and the return of windows, a balcony, and a high ceiling that 1960s work had covered. The Pontotoc County courthouse open house notice described the event for the public.
The restoration cost about $1.2 million, with the county paying $700,000 and a Save America's Treasures grant adding more. A judiciary feature told the story of the recovered courtroom and its craft.
Today that same courthouse holds the Circuit Clerk's counter and the files behind every case. The Pontotoc County restored courtroom article remains a useful window into the building that houses the county's court records.